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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Perspective please

86 replies

everynameseemstobetaken · 04/05/2015 15:12

Hello. To start with, please bear with me as my own thoughts are not very clear. I genuinely don't know if I've just lived alone too long, if I'm intolerant or if things aren't right. My partner moved in a few months ago. We each have one child still at home. My 17 year old lives with me, but works about 60 hours a week so is rarely home. His 14 year old is here about 50% of the time. Nice lad. We have very different parenting styles, but both completely accept that and don't directly parent each others children really.
Earnings - I earn a good amount more than him. I also work relief in other jobs if I need additional money. I worked very long hours indeed for about 18 months to pay off house debts. He doesn't have any interest in working any extra hours at all. My mortgage is far less than his rented flat coat and my bills are low in general.
He is lovely, tolerant and peaceful. But...I feel like I have to lead everything. I feel that he looks to me for guidance on every little thing. He has no social life but me, except for a hobby he is passionate about. I showed him a job with much higher earnings that I thought he would be great at - his reply was 'fuck that' as it would sometimes clash with his hobby. We each have £100 per week 'fun' money. I easily live within that, it's plenty! He has maxed out the overdrafts on the accounts in his name that we paid off from my account when we got together (both have our names on my account now so I suppose he paid them off from his own account if that make sense). I really couldnt guess where that money goes as he doesn't drink, smoke or ever buy clothes. We went shopping when we were first living together from the joint/my o riginal account to get him lots of new clothes as he had been on a tight budget for a long time due to high rent, child maintenance, not massive wages etc - don't resent that at all. But I can't fathom how he's spent £100 a week and maxed out his overdrafts of about £900 (in 4 months) which I only know because he has spent another couple of hundred from the joint account and had to tell me he had no money. Some goes on his hobby, but it's not a terribly expensive hobby. One part of me thinks - not my business and the other thinks....eh??!
He does cook. I've put on a lot of weight from being very slim. I loved being cooked for at first. Somehow now I feel quite controlled by it but I have no idea why it makes me feel that way. He also does the food shopping.
He doesn't do anything else round the house unless I instigate it. Then he does a slow slow job...I could clean the whole house in the time it takes him to do the bathroom. He does it well though! DIY is all 'later' and I'm starting to wait till he goes out so I can just get on and do jobs myself. No fussing, takes me 5 minutes and they actually get done. Then I get told 'I was going to do that'.
Lots more, but mainly passive behaviour which is driving me mad. But I lived alone for years and wonder if actually I'm impatient and intolerant. Before I get flamed for suggesting he got a new job, he complains about his wages and makes reference to me being a higher earner. I don't care who earns what as we have one pot for money.
This is very long so I'll post. Please be kind!

OP posts:
Louboutin37 · 14/07/2015 20:05

I know that this thread has moved on a bit since the start (and good!) but I just wanted to give you a bit of perspective. I've been with my OH for a year, I am the bigger earner and there's only been talk so far of getting engaged in perhaps two years. We still live in separate houses and will do for a long time.

No talk of joint accounts, certainly no payment of each other's debts and if I am ever to buy his kids the odd treat my other half is massively grateful and occasionally tells me not to because he feels bad (different dynamic as I have no kids of my own and a bit more disposable) but I hope this serves to show you that the situation you've been in has been hugely unbalanced. Get shot of him now

truthaboutlove · 14/07/2015 20:45

Sorry op you must be mad to have paid off a man's debts after only knowing him for a year. Then moved him and his kid in, got a joint account and next you'll be funding his daughter's education. No wonder he doesn't want to move out. He's got it made.

You don't know someone after a year. (Learnt that to my detriment.)

AskBasil · 14/07/2015 23:42

please stop worrying about how he'll feel, giving him time to come to terms with things, think it over etc.

It's not your problem how he feels. It's not your job to give him time to come to terms. Your main priority here should be you: not him, not his kids, not his feelz. You are the one you need to be looking out for, because when he knows it's over for good and there's no going back, don't think for one moment that his priority will be how you're coping and feeling. Put yourself first.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 14/07/2015 23:55

He'd probably noticed that you've 'changed'. He has concluded that is because you are having an affair. He may have been round this loop before with a cheating partner, have leapt to that conclusion or be projecting. Or something else.
The important thing is that you want him out. Stop dropping hints and giving him exit options. Sort the finances and give him notice. He isn't going to see it because it isn't in his interest. You can ask him to leave. You don't have to have a 'good' reason.

everynameseemstobetaken · 15/07/2015 00:17

He's agreed to leave. Is very sad, but seems accepting at this point. Yes, I've been stupid in many ways. Giddy is right in her comments, he has had a cheating ex wife and my pulling away has made him think I'm seeing someone. I'm also not very good at tough conversations which has maybe left him in limbo and uncertain about what I want. His recent behaviour may be partly down to my own - I think that would be a fair assumption.
I'll see how the next day or two pans out. All sad stuff really. But I haven't any doubts about needing him to move out.

OP posts:
hellsbellsmelons · 15/07/2015 08:50

I'm glad he's agreed to leave.
Did you give him a time-line?
I hope you feel happier and freer once he has moved out.
Well done OP.

franklyidontgiveadamscarlet · 15/07/2015 09:43

"he has had a cheating ex wife and my pulling away has made him think I'm seeing someone. I'm also not very good at tough conversations which has maybe left him in limbo and uncertain about what I want"

Don't make excuses for him he is who he is.

Tell him you have family coming to stay in x amount of days so you can get him to move on.
Don't feel sorry for him.
You don't need a soft heart today.

You will feel so much lighter when he has gone.

everynameseemstobetaken · 15/07/2015 10:48

His son is going on holiday sometime in the next couple of weeks (not sure if the exact dates but will find out today). He's said he'd like to be set up in a new place before his son gets back to minimise disruption and upset for him. This does make sense. Not looking forward to the next couple of weeks though.

Some of the other current thread about the needy partner really resonates with me regarding clingy behaviour. He was texting last night saying he's crap, and useless and now he's lost me, how much he loves me but clearly I don't love him...I'm hoping that this will be limited to texts and not how he's going to be talking in person.

OP posts:
magoria · 15/07/2015 11:04

Don't engage. Let him say it but just don't respond.

He was insulting tarring you with the same brush as his wife.

cozietoesie · 15/07/2015 11:37

You're feelng sorry for him, aren't you?

(And he's started that 'negotiaton'.)

Have you dealt with all of the financials?

everynameseemstobetaken · 15/07/2015 12:12

Kind of. I've blocked the overdraft so limited damage can be done. I'm going to end up out of pocket to a degree I think, but it's worth it for ease and speed at this point.
Oddly I'm not feeling sorry for him and certainly have no second thoughts. Just have that heavy 'this next bit isn't going to be fun' weight hanging over me. Also, and I know you'll all think I'm mad, I want to walk away with integrity. For my own peace of mind and self respect. If it costs me a thousand pound deposit on a rental flat or house so be it. I'm not changing my values due to someone else's behaviour. I'm asking him and his son to leave. Their relationship will be damaged by this move for various reasons, so ensuring they are able to go straight to a decent place in order to minimise that damage is important. I'm fortunate enough to be able to recover financially quite quickly. This has been a massive learning curve for me. I will never cohabit again so this is a one time cost to me. I know this may sound stupid to many of you, but it matters to me that I do the right thing for my own peace of mind. I just hope it can be done swiftly. I think it can.

OP posts:
everynameseemstobetaken · 15/07/2015 12:13

And not engaging is good advice. I'll continue to avoid time together as far as possible.

OP posts:
butterflygirl15 · 15/07/2015 12:36

You are going to make sure he pays you back what he owes you? And giving him even more money - seems ludicrous to me.

ijustwannadance · 15/07/2015 12:39

Just make sure to change the locks once he is gone! You've handled it so well. This is the hard part but just wait for that sense of relief in a few weeks when it's all sorted.

cozietoesie · 15/07/2015 12:49

Acting out of honour is not necessarily a stupid thing. As long as that is what it is. Look deep into your heart on this one. (I know, from previous posts, that you feel much sympathy for his son in particular.)

I would try to keep your own son out of the firing line as best you can but I would also try to occupy yourself out of the house (if you can - subject to shifts etc) over the next weekend or whenever you would normally have time to yourself. That might be the most difficult time for you because that might be when he tries to further the 'negotiation' by some means.

Have you taken any small valuables and mementoes out of the house? It's disturbing how 'forgetful' people can be in such situations.

everynameseemstobetaken · 15/07/2015 15:13

Justwannadance, the line about handling it well just made me tearful for the first time since all this started. I'm so muddled and second guessing myself. Thank you x

Cozietoes - definitely nothing more. I haven't a flicker of doubt about wanting this over and them moved out. I don't feel like I have my head straight about the rationale for it, but I know very clearly what I need to happen. Thank you for your support through all this. Thanks to everyone that's commented here. You're helping me.

OP posts:
AskBasil · 15/07/2015 18:03

" I want to walk away with integrity. For my own peace of mind and self respect. If it costs me a thousand pound deposit on a rental flat or house so be it. I'm not changing my values due to someone else's behaviour. "

As long as your feeling of integrity and self-respect isn't based on some mistaken notion of being responsible for the welfare of your STBX and his children. Putting yourself and your own interests first, really isn't lacking in integrity.

Trust your gut. Sometimes, you do things on instinct and you're not entirely sure what was driving you at the time, but 2 or 3 years later, you look back and you realise why you did it. At the time, it was just instinct that guided you, because you were in too much of a fog to think it through rationally. But it's good that you recognise your instinct is right. Time for analysis later on when you've got rid of the immediate problem.

ItalianLemons · 15/07/2015 18:34

In my experience the suspecting you of having an affair is common. Purely anecdotal of course. Every man I've ended a relationship with has automatically assumed there is someone else. They seem unable to grasp the concept that no, actually, I just don't like you/you are not meeting my expectations your actions are shit etc. fascinating really.

AskBasil · 15/07/2015 21:40

Or they're having an affair themselves = projection

everynameseemstobetaken · 21/07/2015 10:23

So....he is actively flat hunting. He's seen several. I'm trying to stay out of the house as he's constantly talking about how he can only afford a one bedroom and will need to sleep in the lounge with his son in the bedroom (this isn't true. He COULD afford a cosy decent two bedroom flat). He's also told me yesterday that he has just stopped his child maintenance to his ex wife on the grounds his son is with him half the time and his other child now lives with their partner (but is still technically based at mums) and that his ex isn't best pleased about it. Talking about how much he's going to struggle with uni fees. My gut tells me that the next stage is likely to be anger, as at the moment I feel like he's playing a part hoping for some sort of sympathy or help. I've never really seen him angry yet. Due to work patterns I won't see him again till Thursday. I hope he's got somewhere by then. He has repeated his aim to be in somewhere by the time his son returns from holiday, so that's about a week and a half. Just to top off everything, he's got a parking ticket while flat hunting...this has added insult to injury! He's again mentioned that he has an overdraft on his own account. This baffles me. I cleared his overdrafts in January, as we were opening a joint account and I didn't like the idea of smallish debts scattered about. Since then he's had a couple of deposits back from his old flat and utility companies which didn't go into the joint account, and we've each had £100 per week private 'spends' money paid into our sole account. I have no idea where this goes as he's very reluctant to spend his money on anything, whereas I'm forever buying bits and pieces or having coffee with friends - this money more than covers that with leftovers. I suppose it's not my business. Anyway, the little voice in my mind that said the material improvements in his life were a big reason for him to want this relationship is getting proven right every time he speaks now...

On my phone and a bit stressy right now so bear with me!

OP posts:
ijustwannadance · 21/07/2015 11:15

Was wondering how you were getting on. It does seem odd him having spent so much money with nothing to show for it. Do you have joint access to a pc you could check what sites he visits? His kids uni etc are his problem. He will be gone soon.

hellsbellsmelons · 21/07/2015 11:24

Keep on keeping on every
This bit is so stressy but there will be an end in sight soon.

AskBasil · 21/07/2015 11:37

Ah yes, the bit where he tells you he's got xyz financial problems and you're supposed to come up with the money to solve it for him.

The fucking leech.

Stay strong, remember his problems are not your problems. In one a half week's time, the sense of relief you will feel at having got rid of this enormous burden, will be incredible. Hang on in there.

everynameseemstobetaken · 24/07/2015 11:37

He's just told me he's found somewhere and has popped back out to pay deposit and first month. Needs to speak with me urgently when he gets back....so....place your bets now..!

OP posts:
hellsbellsmelons · 24/07/2015 14:30

He needs some money to tide him over as he's spent every penny on the deposit and months rent.
I'm glad he's found somewhere but it may be that it will take a month for him to move in???
Well done OP.